Trace.



C. J. COOPER TRACE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI-:30, 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

einen.

CHARLES J. COOPER, OF IVIOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I-I. W. COOPER SADDLERY HARDWARE MFG. COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, `.A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRACE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. COOPER,

.a citizen of the Unite-d States. residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traces, of which the following is a specification.`

My invention relates to traces for harness, and particularly refers to improvements in traces constructed with a core of metallic cable which furnishes the necessary tensile strength.

The principal objects of the invention are, to provide a trace of the character described which may be lubricated with no necessity of dismantling or takingapart the various elements of the trace; to provide a trace of the class described in which the applied lubricant is effectually retained by the cable over long periods of time; to provide for a trace of the class described an improved covering which shall be simple and convenient to apply and effect a substantial reduction in the cost of manufacture; to provide improved means for securing said covering in position at the ends of the trace; to provide a covering any part of which may be conveniently and economically renewed when a Section thereof shows sign of wear or is destroyed, without the necessity of re- -placing the entire covering; and, in general to provide an improved trace of the character referred to.

In the drawings which illustrate a pre-` ferred embodiment of my invention-Figure 1 is a view of the complete trace; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one end of the trace, partly in section; Fig. '3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but entirely in section; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a full side view of a section of the trace, showing the openings in the leather covering.

Referring to the drawings, the trace as a whole is designated as 11 and is provided at each end with clevises 12 and 13 of usual construction, said clevises being substantially alike as to the application of the trace proper and the leather covering therefor. As shown, the trace cable has a central core 14 of hemp or cord around which are helically wrapped a series of stranded cables 15 which taken together make up the wire rope or cable 16 of the trace. The ends of this wire or cable 16 are secured in the clevises 12 and 13 by threading the latter over the ends of the cable, the ends of which are afterward fanned out so as to substantially fill the socket of the clevis, after which molten inet'al, preferably spelter, as at 1S. is poured into the ends of the clevises and adheres to the fanned out ends 17 of the cable and the sides 20 of the clevises.

Describing the means for covering the cable thus secured to the clevises 12 and 13, 19 represents a leather pocket which covers the socket of the clevis and is made by bending a piece of leather endwise around the socket, the edges being sewed together along each side, as shown. T he covering 23 of the cable 16 is an important feature of my invention and comprises a continuous strip of leather wrapped helcally around the cable 16 from end to end of the trace. As indicated in Fig. 5 in dotted lines at ai, each end of the spiral leather covering 23 is cut obliquely so'that when the end of the leather is wrapped around the cable adjacent the socket, the cut end of the leather will encircle the cable. Said oblique end of the lea-ther covering 23 is sewed to the ends 22 of the leather pocket 19, as shown. The joints between the clevis coverings 19 and the helical wrap 23 are protected by metal bands or rings, as shown at 24, which are clasped firmly around the leather and also hold the leather wrapping securely in position without allowing it to become loose or unwrapped. It will be noted that the clevis coverings 19 and the helical wrap 23 are connected or sewed together by a butt joint,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thereby rendering the application of the metal band 24C very easy and eiicient.

By extending the leather clevis coverings 19 beyond the end of the socket and there applying metal bands 24, I support the cable beyond the ends of the clevis socket and thus largely prevent the wires of the cable from bending abruptly at t-he point where they enter the socket. This construction increases considerably the life of a trace of this character, the tendency of which is to crystallize and break oil at the clevis in the course of time, owing to the localized bending of the wires of the cable.

The clevis bolts 21 are of ordinary construction suitable for securing the trace to the collar at one end and the swingletree at the other end. At 26 I have shotvn a metal loop Which may be clamped or clasped on the outside of the trace in order to permit the application of the belly-,band of the :harness. Said loops 26, or other parts, may be applied at any point in the length of the trace where it is desired to connect other parts of the harness. Such parts may be applied in the same manner as the metal rings 2l, to which I have heretofore referred, or in any other suitable manner, as by screw clamps.

An important feature of my invention is the ease with which the trace may be lubricated after the covering has been applied and the trace placed in service. It will be readily understood that a cable used in this manner as a part of the harness and which is exposed to all kinds of Weather must be thoroughly7 oiled or otherwise lubricated in order to prevent rusting` of the metal with resultant destruction of the cable. By referring to Fie. G it will be observed that When the trace is bent in the arc of a circle, gaps as at Q5 are formed in the covering, through Which oil, grease,.or other lubricant may be applied to the cable core. A convenient Way to apply the lubricant is to coil the trace and immerse it in a bath of oil, heated grease, or some other convenient liquid lubricant, when the lubricant Will flow into the cable through the gaps 25 in its helical leather covering and fill the hemp core and the interstices between the strands of the cable. If desired, a string ofrhemp or other porous material maybe associated with each strand of the cable so as to orovide a considerable stora e ca acit i be strong, reliable, very durable,and convenient to clean and care for.V If a section of the leather coveringis ldestroyed or gives way due to localized Wear, 'it Vis a simple matter to cut out the defective yportion and insert a new, strip of leather, abutting ends of the neiv and old sections of the covering being covered by a metal band, such as shown at 2li. Y

The structural detailsY herein described are merely illustrative'of my'invention, the scope of which must be determined by reference to the appended claims.

l. In a trace, the combination ,of a VWire cable, a clevis in Ywhich said Wire cable is secured, a covering' for-said clevis, and a covering for said cable secured to the clevis covering.

2.- In a trace, the combination of a Wire cable, a clcvis in `which said cable is secured, a leather covering for said clevis, a helical leather-covering for said cable having its end sewed to theclevis'covering with a butt joint, and a metal bandcovering the'joint;

3. In a trace, the combination of a clevis provided with a tapered socket, a cable having its end entering said socket and fanned out Within said socket, a metal fillingfcr said socket, a leather covering for the socket having a pair of ends extending beyond the end of the socket, anda helical Aleather cover-V ing for said cable and secured to the ends of said clevis covering. Y

l. In a trace, the combination of a clevis provided with a tapered socket, ,a cable'having its end entering said socket andfanned out Within said socket, a metal lling for said socket, a leather covering for the socket having a'pair of ends extending beyond the end of the socket, al helical Aleather covering for said cable and sevved to the ends of said clevis covering, and a metal band surround ing the seived joint and spaced apartgfrom A the end of the socket.

CHARLES J. COOPER.

` Copies of this patent may be obtained .for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofY Patents, Washington, D. C. l i 

